Paralegal I- Appellate Unit (Internal Applicants Only)

Full Job Description

Supervisor: Kris Bridgman

Salary: Range 49 - $37.97 (step one) - $48.13 (step ten) *

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, our core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Work Location: In-person /telecommute - 516 Third Avenue, W-400, Seattle, Washington.

The Criminal Division is soliciting applications for a Paralegal I in the Appellate Unit.

The successful candidate will perform a wide variety of support tasks that require the exercise of initiative and independent judgment along with the ability to anticipate needs and appropriately respond.

Candidates must possess excellent organizational skills and the ability to work independently, strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact with all levels of colleagues, the public and court staff, analytical and critical thinking skills to make decisions and initiate action, time management skills to effectively and accurately handle multiple tasks within often short deadlines, and the ability to handle emergency situations and work under pressure.

Requirements

This position oversees all appellate cases from start to finish.

This is a unique position which independently manages a very large volume of daily appellate court filings and oversees the distribution of all assigned cases.

This position requires strong paralegal skills including preliminary drafting abilities, proof reading, formatting legal documents, the ability to identify legal documents, knowledge of legal terminology and of appellate procedures for the Court of Appeals, Washington Supreme Court, United States District Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and US Supreme Court.

• Open new appellate case files.
• Review all new appellate documents filed by courts or defense attorneys (very high volume), upload the documents into PbK and oversee correct distribution of all documents, including scheduling deadlines and reminders in PbK.
• Timely copy, scan and upload trial exhibits requested in Designation of Clerks Papers.
• Review new Briefs of Appellant and Personal Restraint Petitions, upload them to PbK, and route to Appellate Co-Chairs for review and assignment.
• Upload transcripts filed in Court of Appeals to PbK, verify that we received the correct VRP’s as ordered in the Statement of Arrangements, and organize into a single, chronological Adobe Portfolio file for assigned DPA.
• Prepare and file initial documents for appellate DPAs after a case is assigned.
• Provide input on creating and implementing new event codes or charge codes as needed for PbK and help with setting up new procedures within PbK.
• Obtain certified documents.
• Prepare and distribute Oral Argument Calendar and Log for each term.
• Open, date stamp and distribute appellate unit mail.
• Provide limited backup coverage for Appellate Supervisor.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of the legal system and court procedures in general, specifically pertaining to the filing requirements for Court of Appeals, Washington Supreme Court, and occasional filings in the federal courts (United States District Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and US Supreme Court).
• Possession of basic paralegal skills including preliminary drafting abilities, proof reading, formatting and putting legal documents into final draft, knowledge of legal terminology, ability to interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations.
• Close attention to detail with the ability to produce accurate, quality work that can be completed on schedule.

• Demonstrated initiative and accountability in work product and service, and the ability to follow through on issues to completion.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills to make decisions and initiate action.
• Possess strong time management skills to effectively and accurately handle multiple tasks, often under pressure with short deadlines.
• Possess excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently but also as a part of team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills - in person, via telephone and email with supervisors, peers, the courts and the public, with clear and concise communication both orally and in writing.
• Must be proficient in ACCORDS, PbK, SAWS, JABS, Word, Outlook, Excel, and Adobe Pro, and E-Filing KC Script and Court of Appeals.
• Actively seeks to take on extra work and assists co-workers as workload allows.
• This position occasionally requires moving or lifting heavy objects, such as boxes of books, papers, etc. that weigh 20-25 pounds.
• Adjusts to varied or changed work conditions, learns new tasks, and has a willingness to take on new responsibilities.
• Must be able/willing to accept supervision and receive feedback, coaching, and counseling.
• Dedication to the organization’s goals and objectives, support for coworkers and the work group, and a willingness to pitch in when needed.
• Eagerly approaches responsibilities and encourages positive behavior in peers and co-workers.
• Active participation in PAO equity work, attending equity trainings and discussions.

Additional Information